ESAAMLG urges results in financial crime fight

KIGALI: THE 2026 annual meetings of the Eastern and Southern Africa AntiMoney Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) have emphasised the need for member states to move beyond technical compliance and demonstrate tangible results in the fight against financial crime.

The meetings, which began on Monday and conclude today in Kigali, Rwanda, have brought together senior government officials, financialsector regulators and experts from across Eastern and Southern Africa. They seek to strengthen collective efforts against money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Member states are examining how their laws, institutions and enforcement mechanisms can deliver measurable outcomes rather than merely satisfying formal requirements. The high-level meetings include the 52nd Task Force of Senior Officials Meeting, the 26th Council of Ministers Meeting and the ninth Public-Private Sector Dialogue.

Participants include ministers and permanent secretaries responsible for finance, justice and home affairs, as well as central bank officials, heads of public institutions, financial-sector experts, regulators and development partners.

Tanzania’s delegation includes the Minister for Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar; the Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Dr Juma Homera; and the Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Dr Seif Abdallah Shekalage.

Other members are the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Sylvester Mwakitalu; Zanzibar’s Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Mr Aboud Hassan Mwinyi; Financial Intelligence Unit Commissioner, Mr Majaba Magana; and Bank of Tanzania Deputy Governor, Ms Sauda Msemo.

ALSO READ: NEMC pushes for environmental conservation to create clean, healthy community

The meetings have been organised through cooperation between the ESAAMLG Secretariat, the Government of Rwanda, Rwanda’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the country’s Financial Intelligence Centre.

For Tanzania, participation provides an opportunity to strengthen institutions, learn from regional best practices and enhance cooperation in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes that could undermine the economy.

The meetings also enable the country to demonstrate its commitment to regional and international standards on financial integrity while safeguarding its economic interests.

Closer cooperation among ESAAMLG members is expected to strengthen the investigation of suspicious transactions, tracing of illicit funds and efforts to create a safer environment for business and investment.

Such measures are considered vital for boosting investor confidence and supporting sustainable economic growth. The meetings are expected to conclude with resolutions and recommendations to help member states improve policies, laws and institutional frameworks while protecting their economies from the abuse of financial systems.